---
title: "SQL Server and ADO.NET"
description: "Describes how to work with features and functionality that are specific to SQL Server"
ms.date: "10/15/2019"
ms.assetid: c18b1fb1-2af1-4de7-80a4-95e56fd976cb
ms.prod: sql
ms.prod_service: connectivity
ms.technology: connectivity
ms.topic: conceptual
author: David-Engel
ms.author: v-daenge
ms.reviewer: v-kaywon
---
# SQL Server and ADO.NET

[!INCLUDE[Driver_ADONET_Download](../../../includes/driver_adonet_download.md)]

## Microsoft.Data.SqlClient

<xref:Microsoft.Data.SqlClient> provides access to versions of SQL Server, which encapsulates database-specific protocols. <xref:Microsoft.Data.SqlClient> includes a tabular data stream (TDS) parser to communicate directly with SQL Server.  
  
> [!NOTE]
> To use the Microsoft SqlClient Data Provider for SQL Server, an application must reference the <xref:Microsoft.Data.SqlClient> namespace.  
  
## In this section  
[SQL Server security](sql-server-security.md)  
Provides an overview of SQL Server security features, and application scenarios for creating secure ADO.NET applications that target SQL Server.  
  
[SQL Server data types and ADO.NET](sql-server-data-types.md)  
Describes how to work with SQL Server data types and how they interact with .NET data types.  
  
[SQL Server binary and large-value data](sql-server-binary-large-value-data.md)  
Describes how to work with large value data in SQL Server.  
  
[SQL Server data operations in ADO.NET](sql-server-data-operations.md)  
Describes how to work with data in SQL Server. Contains sections about bulk copy operations, MARS, asynchronous operations, and table-valued parameters.  
  
[SQL Server features and ADO.NET](sql-server-features-adonet.md)  
Describes SQL Server features that are useful for ADO.NET application developers.  
  
For complete documentation of the SQL Server Database Engine, see SQL Server Books Online for the version of SQL Server you are using.  
  
[SQL Server Books Online](../../../sql-server/index.yml)